Iwobi Urged To Quit Arsenal By Coach Who Persuaded Him To Play For Nigeria

Former Dream Team VI coach Samson Siasia is unhappy over Alex Iwobi's lack of playing opportunities at Arsenal and wants the attacking midfielder to quit the Premier League club before the 2018 World Cup.

Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho was in the same boat as Iwobi in the just concluded season, and is being linked with a departure from the Etihad Stadium this summer.

''Nobody is happy that with the huge talents of Iheanacho and Iwobi they did not play many matches for Man City and Arsenal," Siasia told Sporting Life.

"We cannot also blame their managers Pep Guadiola and Arsene Wenger for leaving them most time on the bench because the players that played ahead of them are more experienced.

"This why I would like them to seek playing time elsewhere if necessary to be able to be hot and smoking for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers."

Siasia was the first coach that invited Alex Iwobi to a Nigerian National Team, the Nigeria U23s, and would have handed him his international debut against Gabon in February 2015, but there were concerns about his eligibility for the All-Africa Games qualifier.

Igho Kingsley